Treasure Houses of Northern England

September 13th-22nd, 2019

York

York

Castle Howard

Harewood House

Fountains Abbey

Peak District National Park

Castle Howard

Chatsworth House

Itinerary Highlights

Friday, September 13th - U.S. departures to Manchester, England.

Saturday, September 14th - Upon arrival at Manchester Airport we will set off for York (about two hours away). Our hotel rooms will be waiting, and the afternoon is free to unpack and explore. We’ll gather for a welcome dinner at the hotel. Overnight: York

Sunday, September 15th - A full day to explore the City of York. A guided tour of exquisite York Minster is followed by a visit to the Treasurer’s House, where we’ll enjoy a private tour of the cellars. Your afternoon and evening are free. Overnight: York

Monday, September 16th - Today we visit Harewood House, a beautiful Palladian mansion with some of the best Robert Adam interiors in the country, and Fountains Abbey, Britain’s largest and most beautiful monastic ruin. On our return to York there will be free time before we sample a local restaurant for dinner. Overnight: York

Tuesday, September 17th - This morning, take the short trip to Castle Howard. This 18th-century Vanbrugh masterpiece and its fine collection of Old Masters. You’ll have time to have lunch on your own in one of the estate’s restaurants before we return to York for a final free afternoon and evening. Overnight: York

Wednesday, September 18th - Going west through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, our first stop will be Newby Hall, one of England’s most splendid Queen Anne houses, where we’ll enjoy a private tour. We’ll stop in the market town of Hawes to visit the Wensleydale Creamery where cheese has been made since medieval times. At Aysgarth we’ll visit the Upper and Lower Falls, an idyllic spot with a waterfall coursing down a series of limestone steps. Dinner will be at our hotel in the Lake District this evening. Overnight: Lake District

Thursday, September 19th - We explore the southern Lakes today with visits to Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage where he lived as a young man and wrote some of his finest poetry. We’ll also tour Beatrix Potter’s charming cottage at Hill Top and stop for lunch at the Tower Bank Arms, featured in the Tale of Jemima Puddleduck. This afternoon we will board a steamer cruise on Lake Windermere to enjoy the panoramic views of the fells from the water. We return to our hotel for a free evening. Overnight: Lake District

Friday, September 20th - This morning we take one of the world’s greatest train journeys on the spectacular Yorkshire Dales Settle-Carlisle line, boarding at Appleby and disembarking at Settle. The journey crosses some of England’s wildest and most remote moorland. We’ll meet our coach in Settle and drive to Knutsford where we’ll visit Tatton Park, the ancestral home of the Egerton family. We’ll have dinner at our hotel this evening. Overnight: Alderley Edge

Saturday, September 21st - A leisurely drive through the northern Peak District National Park this morning brings us to the Duke of Devonshire’s little country place - Chatsworth. This superb country mansion contains one of the finest collections of furniture and works of art in the country. We’ll return to Alderley Edge for free time before we gather for a farewell dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Alderley Edge

Sunday, September 22nd - Transfers to nearby Manchester airport for returning flights to the U.S.

Quick Facts

All ground transportation as detailed in the itinerary and airport pick ups and drop offs to Manchester Airport

Rail journey included on Friday, September 20th

Breakfast daily, 5 dinners

Discover Europe tour guide throughout and local guides for private tours as indicated on itinerary

Please Note: If you’d prefer, you can fly into London and take the train to York to meet the group on the 14th

Review

“It's hard to know where to begin, but thank you -- to you and all at Discover Europe -- for an amazing time. It was remarkable from beginning to end and just so lovely. First of all, I can not speak highly enough of Alun. He "took custody" of the four of us, and was charming, professional, knowledgeable, and completely unflappable. It's thanks to him that the trip was both comfortable and memorable.

We saw so much -- more than was on the itinerary. The weather was glorious. And the "treasure houses" were, of course, incredible. But more than that, the landscape, the history, and the more intimate places made the trip whole. The Yorkshire Dales got under my skin, for instance, and Beatrix Potter's house was very special.”- Martha R.